Disc information output method, program, and recording medium

ABSTRACT

When the kind of disk is changed by reformatting the disk inserted, a control cannot be made in accordance with the standard corresponding to the kind of the reformatted disk. There are provided an output step of outputting to an STB the information indicating that reading the disk information is impossible when a DVD recorder receives a read request of the disk information from the STB having a read right of the descriptor during initialization of the replaceable disk, and an acquisition step of acquiring a descriptor identifier from the DVD recorder, when the STB requests again the read right of the descriptor firstly after the DVD recorder outputs to the STB the information indicating that reading the disk information is impossible.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a replaceable disk recording andreproducing apparatus controlled via a digital interface, a diskinformation output method, a disk information acquisition method, aprogram and a recording medium.

PRIOR ART

In recent years, the IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and ElectronicsEngineers, Inc.) 1394 system has gained attention as a serialtransmission system. The IEEE1394 system is employed not only fortransmission of computer data, instead of the conventional SCSI (smallcomputer system interface) method, but also for transmission of AV dataof sound and video, because in the IEEE1394 system, two communicationmethods, including the asynchronous communication and the isochronouscommunication, are defined. The isochronous communication is the datatransmission method capable of transmitting data having the real-timerequirement, such as AV data. In the isochronous communication, a bandnecessary to transmit data is acquired, prior to start of transmission.And data is transmitted through the band. Thereby, the real-timerequirement of data transmission is assured. On the other hand, theasynchronous communication is the transmission method of transmittingdata without the real-time requirement, such as computer data, or makingequipment control. In the following, it is supposed that theasynchronous communication is employed to transmit or receive thecommands for use with the equipment control in the invention. For atransmission protocol in the IEEE1394, various methods have beenproposed. One of the methods is what is called an AV protocol. The AVprotocol is standardized as IEC (International ElectrotechnicalCommission) 61883, in which a method for transmitting or receiving AVdata having the real-time requirement through the isochronouscommunication, and a method for transmitting or receiving a commandgiven to the equipment through the asynchronous communication aredefined.

By the way, in the IEC-61883 standard, a concept referred to as anoutput plug or input plug is employed to deal with the input or outputof the AV data in an AV reproducing apparatus or a recording andreproducing apparatus such as a compact disk (hereinafter referred to asCD) or a mini disk (hereinafter referred to as MD). The plug is animaginary splicing terminal between each AV apparatus to be useful intransmitting or receiving data through the isochronous communication. Ahybrid apparatus having integrally a plurality of functions may have theplug for each functional unit. For example, a CD radio cassette playerhas a compound of functional units of a CD player, a tuner (radio), anda cassette tape player. Such apparatuses may have the plug for eachfunctional unit for use to input or output the isochronous communicationdata. Two plugs belong to the functional unit, including a destinationplug for accepting data from the outside and a source plug fortransmitting data to the outside. These plugs have their attributes andoperation states. However, in the AV protocol, no method for dealingwith the information regarding these plugs is provided. A method forholding the information in the list structure and a method for accessingthe list from the outside are defined as AV/C DISC Subunit GeneralSpecification (version 1.0 Jan. 26, 1999) standard and its extension, orAV/C DISC Subunit Enhancements for Hard Disk Drive Specificationstandard in the IEEE1394 trade association (hereinafter referred to asTA). In these standards, the media identification information for areplaceable disk device such as a CD player or an MD player in whichmedia is replaceable, and the information indicating a disk insertionstate are defined as a list structure.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the operation of a conventionalreplaceable disk recording and reproducing apparatus and controller(e.g., refer to National Publication of International Patent ApplicationNo. 2001-512274). The entire disclosure of National Publication ofInternational Patent Application No. 2001-512274 is incorporated hereinby reference in its entirety. An STB (Set Top Box) 100 and a DVDrecorder 200 are connected via an IEEE1394 bus 501. A disk tray 210 isused to insert or extract a disk into or from the DVD recorder 200. Eachof a subunit status descriptor 220, a route contents list 209 and asubunit identifier descriptor 230 is the descriptor having the liststructure of information that can be read using the asynchronous packetvia the IEEE1394 bus 501 from the DVD recorder 200. A disk-in drive 222is the information indicating whether some kind of disk is inserted intothe disk tray of the DVD recorder 200, and updated one after another bythe DVD recorder 200, based on the disk insertion or extractioninformation obtained from the disk tray 210. A correspondence tablebetween the disk insertion or extraction state and the value taken bythe disk-in drive 222 is shown in Table 1. TABLE 1 Disk insertion orextraction state Disk-in drive value Unknown 00b Disk present 01b Nodisk 10b

The STB 100 periodically reads the disk-in drive 222 from the DVDrecorder 200 using the asynchronous packet to detect replacement of adisk on the DVD recorder 200.

A media type 212 is the information reflecting the kind of mediainserted into the DVD recorder 200, or the kind of signal format, whichis updated one after another by the DVD recorder 200, based on the diskinformation 211 obtained by discriminating the kind of disk insertedinto the disk tray 210 in the DVD recorder. The video object information213 stores individual information of contents recorded on the DVD disk208. The STB 100 can read such information from the DVD recorder 200,using the asynchronous packet. A route list ID 232 is the list ID fordesignating the route contents list 209. The STB 100 issues a readcommand of asynchronous packet by designating the route list ID 232 toread the route contents list 209.

Herein, in the case where the DVD recorder 200 has the reproductioncapability of not only DVD-Video, but also CD and other kinds of disk,the DVD recorder 200 examines the disk when it is inserted, and reflectsthe kind of disk to the media type 212. A correspondence table betweenthe kind of inserted disk and the value taken by the media type 212 isshown in Table 2. TABLE 2 Route Kind of disk Media type value contentslist ID CD-DA 0101h 1000h MD-Audio 0301h 1000h DVD-Video 0902h 1000hGRVD 0D01h 3000h Unknown FFFFh —

The rules of a set of commands or descriptors for use when the STB 100controls the DVD recorder 200 are determined by the kind of mediainserted into the DVD recorder 200. More specifically, when a DVD-Videodisk is inserted into the DVD recorder 200, the STB 100 controls the DVDrecorder 200 in accordance with the AV/C Disc Media TypeSpecification-DVD (TA Candidate 1.0: 63 Apr. 23, 2001) in the 1394TAstandard. Also, when a CD disk is inserted into the DVD recorder 200,the STB 100 controls the DVD recorder 200 in accordance with the AV/CDisc Media Type Specification—CD-DA (version 1.0 FC 2 Apr. 9, 1999) inthe 1394TA standard.

That is, for the STB 100 to control the DVD recorder 200, it is requiredto know the kind of disk inserted into the DVD recorder 200, and todetect replacement of the disk in the DVD recorder 200, and reexaminethe kind of newly inserted disk, if the replacement of the disk is made.

Referring to FIG. 6, a specific control procedure for the STB 100controlling the DVD recorder 200 will be briefly described below.

In controlling the DVD recorder 200, the STB 100 firstly reads thesubunit status descriptor 220 using the asynchronous packet, and takesout the value of the disk-in drive 222 included therein. If thetaken-out value is 01b, some kind of disk is kept inserted into the DVDrecorder 200. Then, the STB 100 examines the kind of disk inserted intothe DVD recorder 200. That is, the subunit identifier descriptor 230 isread from the DVD recorder, using the asynchronous packet, and the routelist ID included therein is taken out. Based on the list ID taken out, aread command of the route contents list 209 is issued to the DVDrecorder 200. The STB 100 takes out the value of the media type 212included in the read route contents list 209. When the taken-out valueis 0101h, the CD-DA is kept inserted into the DVD recorder 200. Or whenthe taken-out value is 0902h, the DVD-Video is kept inserted into theDVD recorder 200. When the kind of inserted media is known, the STB 100can control the DVD recorder 200, based on the control standard (1394TAstandard) corresponding to the kind of respective media.

The above disk recognition process is performed every time of diskreplacement. That is, the STB 100 reads periodically the value of thedisk-in drive 222, and the replacement of disk in the DVD recorder 200is recognized when the value is changed to other than 01b and thenrestored to 01b. If a disk is replaced, the kind of newly inserted diskmust be examined again to control the DVD recorder 200. Therefore, theSTB 100 needs to perform the disk recognition process, every time thereplacement of the disk is detected.

Also, after a disk is replaced, and the above disk recognition processis performed, the STB 100 once stores the route list ID 232 obtained inthe disk recognition process, and makes a read request of the routecontents list 209 by designating the stored route list ID until the diskis replaced at the next time. That is, the route list ID 232 is acquiredfrom the DVD recorder 200, only when the disk is replaced, and the abovedisk recognition process is performed. At the other time, the STB 100reads the route contents list 209, using the route list ID 232 storedwhen the disk recognition process is performed.

Herein, a supplemental explanation for the descriptor reading procedurewill be given below. The STB 100 needs to acquire a read right of adescriptor from the DVD recorder 200 and read the descriptor inaccordance with the Disc General standard. A state in which the readright for a certain descriptor is acquired is called an open state, or astate in which the read right is not acquired, the once acquired readright is returned, or the once acquired read right is restored by theDVD recorder 200 is called a closed state. When the STB 100 issues aread command for a descriptor in the closed state, the DVD recorder 200returns a negative response to this command. The STB 100 receiving thenegative response needs to send again a request for reopening thedescriptor to the DVD recorder 200, and have the request accepted toread the descriptor.

In the conventional DVD recorder 200, when the kind of disk is changedby reformatting the disk in a state where the disk is kept inserted, thevalue of the disk-in drive is unchanged from 01b, whereby a change inthe kind of disk is not detected from the outside.

That is, since the conventional external control device such as the STB100 does not perform the above disk recognition process while the diskis kept inserted, the route list ID 232 held by the control device isunchanged from the route list ID 232 before formatting. Accordingly, thecontrol device tries to refer to the route contents list 209, using theroute list ID 232 before formatting, even if the kind of the disk ischanged by formatting. Therefore, the control device can not refer tothe route contents list 209 after formatting.

In this manner, the control device does not know that the kind of thedisk is changed, and can not make the control in accordance with thestandard (1394TA standard) corresponding to the kind of the new disk.That is, there is a problem that the control cannot be continued.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In the light of the above-mentioned problems, it is an object of theinvention to provide a disk information output method, a replaceabledisk recording and reproducing apparatus, a control device, a programand a recording medium, in which even when the kind of disk insertedinto a replaceable disk recording and reproducing apparatus such as DVDrecorder 200 is changed by formatting the disk, the control device cancontinue the control by detecting the kind of disk correctly.

In order to achieve the above object, a first invention of the presentinvention is a disk information output method for making access to thedisk information based on a descriptor identifier acquired from areplaceable disk recording and reproducing apparatus and stored by acontrol device, the descriptor identifier identifying a descriptorhaving the disk information of a replaceable disk in the replaceabledisk recording and reproducing apparatus, the method comprising,

-   -   an output step of outputting to the control device the        information indicating that reading the disk information is        impossible or the information indicating that a read request is        refused when the replaceable disk recording and reproducing        apparatus receives the read request of the disk information from        the control device having a read right of the descriptor during        initialization of the replaceable disk, and    -   an acquisition step of acquiring the descriptor identifier from        the replaceable disk recording and reproducing apparatus, when        the control device requests again the read right of the        descriptor firstly after the replaceable disk recording and        reproducing apparatus outputs to the control device the        information indicating that reading the disk information is        impossible or the information indicating that the read request        is refused.

Also, a second invention of the present invention is a disk informationoutput method for making access to the disk information based on adescriptor identifier acquired from a replaceable disk recording andreproducing apparatus and stored by a control device, the descriptoridentifier identifying a descriptor having the disk information of areplaceable disk in the replaceable disk recording and reproducingapparatus, the method comprising,

-   -   an output step of disabling a read right of the descriptor to be        given to the control device when the replaceable disk recording        and reproducing apparatus receives a request for the read right        of the descriptor from the control device during initialization        of the replaceable disk, and    -   an acquisition step of acquiring the descriptor identifier from        the replaceable disk recording and reproducing apparatus, when        the control device requests again the read right of the        descriptor firstly after the replaceable disk recording and        reproducing apparatus disables the read right of the descriptor        to be given to the control device.

Also, a third invention of the present invention is a disk informationoutput method for making access to the disk information based on adescriptor identifier acquired from a replaceable disk recording andreproducing apparatus and stored by a control device, said descriptoridentifier identifying a descriptor having the disk information of areplaceable disk in said replaceable disk recording and reproducingapparatus, said method comprising:

-   -   an output step of outputting to said control device the        information indicating that reading said disk information is        impossible or the information indicating that a read request is        refused when said replaceable disk recording and reproducing        apparatus receives said read request of said disk information        from said control device having a read right of said descriptor        and during initialization of said replaceable disk;    -   wherein when said control device requests again the read right        of said descriptor firstly after said replaceable disk recording        and reproducing apparatus outputs to said control device the        information indicating that reading said disk information is        impossible or the information indicating that said read request        is refused, said descriptor identifier is acquired from said        replaceable disk recording and reproducing apparatus by said        control device.

Also, a fourth invention of the present invention is a disk informationoutput method for making access to the disk information based on adescriptor identifier acquired from a replaceable disk recording andreproducing apparatus and stored by a control device, the descriptoridentifier identifying a descriptor having the disk information of areplaceable disk in the replaceable disk recording and reproducingapparatus, the method comprising,

-   -   an output step of disabling a read right of the descriptor to be        given to the control device when the replaceable disk recording        and reproducing apparatus receives a request for the read right        of the descriptor from the control device during initialization        of the replaceable disk,    -   wherein the descriptor identifier is acquired from the        replaceable disk recording and reproducing apparatus by the        control device, when the control device requests again the read        right of the descriptor firstly after the replaceable disk        recording and reproducing apparatus disables the read right of        the descriptor to be given to the control device.

Also, a fifth invention of the present invention is a disk informationoutput method for making access to the disk information based on adescriptor identifier acquired from a replaceable disk recording andreproducing apparatus and stored by a control device, the descriptoridentifier identifying a descriptor having the disk information of areplaceable disk in the replaceable disk recording and reproducingapparatus, in which when the replaceable disk is taken in or out, thecontrol device acquires the descriptor identifier again, the methodcomprising an output step of outputting to the control device theinformation indicating a state where the replaceable disk is notinserted, or a state where insertion or extraction of the replaceabledisk is unknown, when the replaceable disk recording and reproducingapparatus receives a read request of the disk insertion or extractioninformation from the control device during initialization of thereplaceable disk.

Also, a sixth invention of the present invention is the disk informationoutput method according to any one of the third to the fifth inventionsof the present invention, wherein said control device requests saidreplaceable disk recording and reproducing apparatus to acquire the diskinsertion or extraction information upon polling.

Also, a seventh invention of the present invention is the diskinformation output method according to the third or the fourth inventionof the present invention, wherein said disk information has the diskidentification information representing the kind of said replaceabledisk and a recording format, and said control device detects a change inthe kind of replaceable disk or the recording format in the saidreplaceable disk recording and reproducing apparatus, based on acomparison result between the disk identification information obtainedby said control device acquiring the read right of said disk informationand the disk identification information obtained by said control deviceacquiring the read right of said disk information at the previous time.

Also, an eighth invention of the present invention is a disk informationoutput method for making access to the disk information based on adescriptor identifier acquired from a replaceable disk recording andreproducing apparatus and stored by a control device, the descriptoridentifier identifying a descriptor having the disk information of areplaceable disk in the replaceable disk recording and reproducingapparatus, the method comprising an acquisition step of acquiring thedescriptor identifier from the replaceable disk recording andreproducing apparatus, when the control device requests again a readright of the descriptor firstly after the replaceable disk recording andreproducing apparatus outputs to the control device the informationindicating that reading the disk information is impossible or theinformation indicating that the read request is refused, if thereplaceable disk recording and reproducing apparatus receives a readrequest of the disk information from the control device having the readright of the descriptor during initialization of the replaceable disk.

Also, a ninth invention of the present invention is a disk informationoutput method for making access to the disk information based on adescriptor identifier acquired from a replaceable disk recording andreproducing apparatus and stored by a control device, the descriptoridentifier identifying a descriptor having the disk information of areplaceable disk in the replaceable disk recording and reproducingapparatus, the method comprising,

-   -   an acquisition step of acquiring the descriptor identifier from        the replaceable disk recording and reproducing apparatus, when        the control device requests again a read right of the descriptor        firstly after the replaceable disk recording and reproducing        apparatus disables the read right of the descriptor to be given        to the control device, if the replaceable disk recording and        reproducing apparatus receives a request for the read right of        the descriptor from the control device during initialization of        the replaceable disk.

Also, a tenth invention of the present invention is the disk informationoutput method according to the eighth or the ninth invention of thepresent invention, wherein the control device comprises a request stepof requesting the replaceable disk recording and reproducing apparatusto acquire the disk insertion or extraction information upon polling.

Also, an eleventh invention of the present invention is the diskinformation output method according to the eighth or the ninth inventionof the present invention, wherein the disk information has the diskidentification information representing the kind of the replaceable diskor a recording format, and the method further comprises a detection stepof the control device for detecting a change in the kind of replaceabledisk or the recording format in the replaceable disk recording andreproducing apparatus, based on a comparison result between the diskidentification information obtained by the control device acquiring theread right of the disk information and the disk identificationinformation obtained by the control device acquiring the read right ofthe disk information at the previous time.

Also, a twelfth invention of the present invention is a replaceable diskrecording and reproducing apparatus for use with a disk informationoutput method for making access to the disk information based on adescriptor identifier acquired from the replaceable disk recording andreproducing apparatus and stored by a control device, the descriptoridentifier identifying a descriptor having the disk information of areplaceable disk in the replaceable disk recording and reproducingapparatus, the apparatus comprising,

-   -   writing means of initializing at least the replaceable disk, and    -   output means of outputting to the control device the information        indicating that reading the disk information is impossible or        the information indicating that a read request is refused when        the writing means receives the read request of the disk        information from the control device having a read right of the        descriptor during initialization of the replaceable disk,    -   wherein the control device comprises request means for acquiring        the descriptor identifier from the output means, when the        control device requests again the read right of the descriptor        firstly after the output means outputs to the control device the        information indicating that reading the disk information is        impossible or the information indicating that the read request        is refused.

Also, a thirteenth invention of the present invention is a replaceabledisk recording and reproducing apparatus for use with a disk informationoutput method for making access to the disk information based on adescriptor identifier acquired from the replaceable disk recording andreproducing apparatus and stored by a control device, the descriptoridentifier identifying a descriptor having the disk information of areplaceable disk in the replaceable disk recording and reproducingapparatus, the apparatus comprising,

-   -   writing means of initializing at least the replaceable disk, and    -   output means of disabling a read right of the descriptor to be        given to the control device when the writing means receives a        read request of the descriptor from the control device during        initialization of the replaceable disk,    -   wherein the control device comprises request means for acquiring        the descriptor identifier from the replaceable disk recording        and reproducing apparatus, when the control device requests        again the read right of the descriptor firstly after the output        means disables the read right of the descriptor to be given to        the control device.

Also, a fourteenth invention of the present invention is a replaceabledisk recording and reproducing apparatus for use with a disk informationoutput method for making access to the disk information based on adescriptor identifier acquired from a replaceable disk recording andreproducing apparatus and stored by a control device, the descriptoridentifier identifying a descriptor having the disk information of areplaceable disk in the replaceable disk recording and reproducingapparatus, in which when the replaceable disk is taken in or out, thecontrol device acquires the descriptor identifier again, the apparatuscomprising:

-   -   writing means of initializing at least the replaceable disk,        and.    -   output means of outputting to the control device the information        indicating a state where the replaceable disk is not inserted,        or a state where insertion or extraction of the replaceable disk        is unknown, when the writing means receives a read request of        the disk insertion or extraction information from the control        device during initialization of the replaceable disk.

Also, a fifteenth invention of the present invention is the replaceabledisk recording and reproducing apparatus according to any one of thetwelfth to the fourteenth inventions of the present invention, whereinthe control device comprises a request step of requesting the outputmeans to acquire the disk insertion or extraction information uponpolling.

Also, a sixteenth invention of the present invention is the replaceabledisk recording and reproducing apparatus according to the twelfth or thethirteenth invention of the present invention, wherein the diskinformation has the disk identification information representing thekind of the replaceable disk or a recording format, and the controldevice further comprises a detection step of detecting a change in thekind of replaceable disk or the recording format in the replaceable diskrecording and reproducing apparatus, based on a comparison resultbetween the disk identification information obtained by the controldevice acquiring the read right of the disk information and the diskidentification information obtained by the control device acquiring theread right of the disk information at the previous time.

Also, a seventeenth invention of the present invention is a controldevice for use with a disk information output method for making accessto the disk information based on a descriptor identifier acquired fromthe replaceable disk recording and reproducing apparatus and stored bythe control device, the descriptor identifier identifying a descriptorhaving the disk information of a replaceable disk in the replaceabledisk recording and reproducing apparatus, the apparatus comprising,

-   -   writing means of initializing at least the replaceable disk, and    -   output means of outputting to the control device the information        indicating that reading the disk information is impossible or        the information indicating that a read request is refused when        the writing means receives the read request of the disk        information from the control device having a read right of the        descriptor during initialization of the replaceable disk,    -   wherein the control device comprises request means of acquiring        the descriptor identifier from the output means, when the        control device requests again the read right of the descriptor        firstly after the output means outputs to the control device the        information indicating that reading the disk information is        impossible or the information indicating that the read request        is refused.

Also, an eighteenth invention of the present invention is a controldevice for use with a disk information output method for making accessto the disk information based on a descriptor identifier acquired fromthe replaceable disk recording and reproducing apparatus and stored by acontrol device, the descriptor identifier identifying a descriptorhaving the disk information of a replaceable disk in the replaceabledisk recording and reproducing apparatus, the apparatus comprising,

-   -   writing means of initializing at least the replaceable disk, and    -   output means for disabling a read right of the descriptor to be        given to the control device when the writing means receives a        read request of the descriptor from the control device during        initialization of the replaceable disk,    -   wherein the control device comprises request means of acquiring        the descriptor identifier from the output means, when the        control device requests again the read right of the descriptor        firstly after the output means disables the read right of the        descriptor to be given to the control device.

Also, a nineteenth invention of the present invention is the controldevice according to the seventeenth or the eighteenth invention of thepresent invention, wherein the request means requests the replaceabledisk recording and reproducing apparatus to acquire the disk insertionor extraction information upon polling.

Also, a twentieth invention of the present invention is the controldevice according to the seventeenth or the eighteenth invention of thepresent invention, wherein the disk information has the diskidentification information representing the kind of the replaceable diskor a recording format, and the control device further comprises adetection step of detecting a change in the kind of replaceable disk orthe recording format in the replaceable disk recording and reproducingapparatus, based on a comparison result between the disk identificationinformation obtained by the control device acquiring the read right ofthe disk information and the disk identification information obtained bythe control device acquiring the read right of the disk information atthe previous time.

Also, a twenty-first invention of the present invention is a program forcausing a computer to perform an output step of outputting to saidcontrol device the information indicating that reading said diskinformation is impossible or the information indicating that said readrequest is refused when said replaceable disk recording and reproducingapparatus receives a read request of said disk information from saidcontrol device having the read right of said descriptor duringinitialization of said replaceable disk, of said disk information outputmethod according to the third invention of the present invention.

Also, a twenty-second invention of the present invention is a programfor causing a computer to perform an output step of disabling the readright of the descriptor to be given to the control device, when thereplaceable disk recording and reproducing apparatus receives a requestfor the read right of the descriptor from the control device duringinitialization of the replaceable disk, of said disk information outputmethod according to the fourth invention of the present invention.

Also, the twenty-third invention of the present invention is a programfor causing a computer to perform an output step of outputting to thecontrol device the information indicating a state where the replaceabledisk is not inserted, or a state where insertion or extraction of thereplaceable disk is unknown, when the replaceable disk recording andreproducing apparatus receives a read request of the disk insertion orextraction information from the control device during initialization ofthe replaceable disk, of the disk information output method according tothe fifth invention of the present invention.

Also, the twenty-fourth invention of the present invention is a programfor causing a computer to perform an acquisition step of acquiring thedescriptor identifier from the replaceable disk recording andreproducing apparatus, when the control device requests again the readright of the descriptor firstly after the replaceable disk recording andreproducing apparatus outputs to the control device the informationindicating that reading the disk information is impossible or theinformation indicating that the read request is refused, if thereplaceable disk recording and reproducing apparatus receives a readrequest of the disk information from the control device having the readright of the descriptor during initialization of the replaceable disk,of the disk information output method according to the eighth inventionof the present invention.

Also, the twenty-fifth invention of the present invention is a programfor causing a computer to perform an acquisition step of acquiring thedescriptor identifier from the replaceable disk recording andreproducing apparatus, when the control device requests again the readright of the descriptor firstly after the replaceable disk recording andreproducing apparatus disables the read right of the descriptor to begiven to the control device, if the replaceable disk recording andreproducing apparatus receives a request for the read right of thedescriptor from the control device during initialization of thereplaceable disk, of the disk information output method according to theninth invention of the present invention.

Also, a twenty-sixth invention of the present invention is a recordingmedium carrying the program according to any one of the twenty-first tothe twenty-fifth inventions of the present invention, wherein saidrecording medium can be processed by a computer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a DVD recorder and an STB according tothe embodiments 1 and 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 2(a) is a flowchart showing the operation of detecting theinsertion of a disk in the DVD recorder according to the embodiments 1and 2 of the invention;

FIG. 2(b) is a flowchart showing the operation of detecting the ejectionof a disk in the DVD recorder according to the embodiments 1 and 2 ofthe invention;

FIG. 2(c) is a flowchart showing the operation of detecting thecompletion of formatting in the DVD recorder according to theembodiments 1 and 2 of the invention;

FIG. 2(d) is a flowchart showing the operation of detecting the start offormatting in the DVD recorder according to the embodiments 1 and 2 ofthe invention;

FIG. 3(e) is a flowchart showing the operation of receiving a routecontents list reading request in the DVD recorder according to theembodiments 1 and 2 of the invention;

FIG. 3(f) is a flowchart showing the operation of receiving a routecontents list opening request in the DVD recorder according to theembodiments 1 and 2 of the invention;

FIG. 4(a) is a flowchart showing the operation in which an initial stateof disk-in drive is “the presence of a disk” in the STB according to theembodiments 1 and 2 of the invention;

FIG. 4(b) is a flowchart showing the operation in which an initial stateof disk-in drive is “the absence of a disk” or unknown in the STBaccording to the embodiments 1 and 2 of the invention;

FIG. 5(c) is a flowchart showing the operation of detecting theinsertion of a disk in the STB according to the embodiments 1 and 2 ofthe invention;

FIG. 5(d) is a flowchart showing the operation of a case where the routecontents list is reopened after compulsorily closing in the STBaccording to the embodiments 1 and 2 of the invention; and

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a conventional replaceable disk recordingand reproducing apparatus.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   100 STB (Set Top Box)-   200 DVD recorder-   208 DVD disk-   209 Route contents list-   210 Disk tray-   211 Disk information-   212 Media type-   213 Video object information-   220 Subunit status descriptor-   221 Disk insertion or extraction information-   222 Disk-in drive-   230 Subunit identifier descriptor-   232 Route list ID-   250 1394I/F-   251 Formatted state-   252 Disk writing portion-   253 Formatting instruction-   254 Remote control receiving part-   501 IEEE1394 bus

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be describedbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings.

EMBODIMENT 1

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of embodiment 1. In FIG. 1, the same orlike parts as in FIG. 6 are designated by the same numerals, and notdescribed here. The 1394I/F 250 receives various kinds of command via anIEEE1394 bus 501, and returns a response. A disk writing part 252 writesinformation into the disk. A signal remote control receiving part 254accepts a remote control signal from the outside, and issues anoperation instruction to the necessary part. When the remote controlsignal from the outside is a format instruction of the disk, the remotecontrol receiving part 254 issues a format instruction 253 to the diskwriting part 252. Upon receiving the format instruction 253, the diskwriting part 252 formats the disk inserted into the DVD recorder 200. Aformat status 251 indicates whether the disk is being formatted atpresent, using a status signal output from the disk writing part 252.

In the following, a control procedure of the STB 100 will be describedin the case where the DVD recorder 200 formats the DVD-RW disk having asignal recorded in DVD-Video format.

FIGS. 2(a), 2(b), 2(c) and 2(d) are flowcharts showing the operationwhen the 1394 I/F 250 writes into the disk-in drive 222 included in thesubunit status descriptor 220 of the DVD recorder 200. The 1394 I/F 250monitors the disk insertion or extraction information 221. Upondetecting insertion of the disk, the 1394 I/F 250 writes the value 01binto the disk-in drive 222 at step 310 in FIG. 2(a). Upon detectingejection of the disk, the 1394 I/F 250 writes the value 10b into thedisk-in drive 222 at step 311 in FIG. 2B. Also, the 1394 I/F 250monitors the format status 251. Upon detecting the start of formattingthe disk, the 1394 I/F 250 closes the route contents list 209, which isin open state at that time, at step 302 in FIG. 2D. In this manner, the1394 I/F 250 closes the route contents list 209, which is in open stateat that time, at the timing when the formatting of the disk is started.Upon detecting the start of formatting the disk, step 301 is not made inthe embodiment 1, but step 302 is only made. Step 301 is only performedin the embodiment 2 as hereinafter described. Also, the operation ofFIG. 2C is not performed in the embodiment 1. The operation of FIG. 2Cis only performed in the embodiment 2.

In this manner, in the embodiment 1, the value written into the disk-indrive 222 always conforms to the disk insertion or extractioninformation 221. That is, in the embodiment 2, the status contradictoryto the disk insertion or extraction information 221 is written into thedisk-in drive 222, while the disk is being formatted in accordance withthe format status 251. However, in the embodiment 1, unlike theembodiment 2, the value corresponding to the disk insertion orextraction information 221 is always written into the disk-in drive 222.

FIG. 3(f) is a flowchart showing the operation of the 1394 I/F 250 whenreceiving an open request of the route contents list 209 from the STB100. Upon receiving the open request from the route contents list 209,the 1394 I/F 250 judges whether or not the disk is being formatted atstep 320. If the disk is being formatted, a negative response to theopen request is returned at step 323. When the disk is not beingformatted, the value of the disk-in drive 222 is examined at step 321,in which if this value is other than 01b, a negative response to theopen request is returned step 323, or if the value is 01b, anaffirmative response to the open request is returned at step 322.

FIG. 3(e) is a flowchart showing the operation of the 1394 I/F 250 whenreceiving a read request of the route contents list 209 from the STB100. Upon receiving the read request of the route contents list 209, the1394 I/F 250 judges whether or not the route contents list 209 is beingopened at step 324. If the route contents list 209 is being opened, aread response is created and returned to the STB 100 at step 325. Whenthe route contents list 209 is not being opened, a negative response tothe read request is returned at step 326.

FIGS. 4(a), 4(b) and FIGS. 5(c), 5(d) are flowcharts showing theoperation of the STB 100 monitoring the disk insertion or extractionstate of the DVD recorder 200. First of all, the STB 100 reads thedisk-in drive 222 from the DVD recorder 200, and acquires the initialinformation in a disk insertion or extraction state (not shown). If theinitial state is “the presence of a disk”, the disk-in drive is read atstep 340 and it is repeatedly judged at step 341 in FIG. 4(a) whether ornot the value of disk-in drive is changed. If the value of disk-in driveis changed it is judged at step 342 that the disk is ejected. If theinitial state is “the absence of a disk or unknown”, the disk-in driveis read at step 343 and it is repeatedly judged at step 344 in FIG. 4(b)whether or not the value of disk-in drive is changed to 01b. If thevalue of disk-in drive is changed to 01b, it is judged at step 345 thatthe disk is inserted. If the insertion of the disk is detected, thesubunit identifier descriptor 230 of the DVD recorder is read and theroute list ID 232 included in it is acquired at step 330 in FIG. 5(c).Then, the STB 100 sends an open request for the route contents list tothe DVD recorder 200 at step 331 by designating the acquired route listID. If the open request is refused at step 332, steps 331 and 332 arerepeated until the open is successful. If the open is successful, a readrequest for the contents of the route contents list 209 is sent and thecontents of the route contents list 209 returned from the DVD recorder200 are acquired at step 333. Then, at step 334, the media type 212included in the acquired route contents list 209 is taken out toidentify the kind of media inserted into the DVD recorder 200, and theDVD recorder 200 starts to be controlled in accordance with the standard(1394TA standard) corresponding to the kind of media.

FIG. 5(d) is a flowchart showing the operation of reopening after theroute contents list 209 opened by the STB 100 is compulsorily closed bythe DVD recorder 200 (step 302). FIG. 5(d) is different from FIG. 5(c)only in that a branch point when the open is refused at step 332 isbefore step 330. That is, in the case where the STB 100 reopens theroute contents list 209 after the route contents list 209 opened by theSTB 100 is compulsorily closed by the DVD recorder 200 (step 302) theroute list ID 232 is first of all read and an open request for the routecontents list 209 is made.

That is, in the case where the STB 100 reopens the route contents list209 after the route contents list 209 opened by the STB 100 iscompulsorily closed by the DVD recorder 200 (step 302), the subunitidentifier descriptor 230 of the DVD recorder is read at step 330 inFIG. 5(d) and the route list ID 232 included in it is acquired. Then,the STB 100 sends an open request for the route contents list to the DVDrecorder 200 at step 331 by designating the acquired route list ID. Ifthe open is refused at step 332, steps 330, 331 and 332 are repeateduntil the open is successful. In this manner, when the STB 100 firstlyrequests a read right for the route contents list 209 again, or when itopens the route contents list 209, after the open is refused, the routelist ID 232 is acquired from the DVD recorder 200. When the open issuccessful, a read request for the contents of the route contents list209 is sent at step 333 to acquire the contents of the route contentslist 209 returned by the DVD recorder 200. Then, at step 334, the mediatype 212 included in the acquired route contents list 209 is taken outto identify the kind of media inserted into the DVD recorder 200, andthe DVD recorder 200 starts to be controlled in accordance with thestandard (1394TA standard) corresponding to the kind of media.

Now, suppose that the kind of disk inserted into the DVD recorder 200 isthe DVD-RW disk in a finalized DVD-Video format. In this case, the STB100 judges that the media type 212 is DVD-Video at step 334, and startsto make the control in accordance with the 1394TA standard of theDVD-Video. Suppose that the user instructs the DVD recorder 200 toformat the disk, using the remote controller (not shown), after startingto make the control. An instruction of the remote controller is receivedby the remote control receiving part 254, and a format instruction 253is issued from the remote control receiving part 254 to the disk writingpart 252. The disk writing part 252 that received the format instruction253 formats the DVD-RW disk inserted into the DVD recorder 200. Theformatted DVD-RW disk is changed again to the writable state, unlike thefinalized state before formatting. The DVD-RW in the writable state istreated in accordance with the GRVD standard (1394TA standard: AV/C DiscSubunit—Generic Recordable Video Disc Media Type Specification 1.0 AVWGCandidate 1.0: 10 Feb. 5, 2002) in the DVD recorder 200, whereby thedisk information 211 is changed to GRVD after formatting, and theinformation written in the media type 212 is also changed from DVD-Videoto GRVD.

At the time when the formatting is started in the DVD recorder 200, theroute contents list 209 is compulsorily closed at step 302 in FIG. 2D.The STB 100 sends a read request for reading the route contents list 209to the DVD recorder 200, and knows the closed state if the read requestis refused by the DVD recorder 200. The STB 100 knowing the closed staterepeatedly tries to reopen the route contents list 290 in FIG. 5D, butthe open request is refused at step 320 while the format operating isperformed in the DVD recorder 200. When the format operation iscompleted, the open request of the STB 100 is accepted at step 320, andthe route contents list 209 is read at step 333. The STB 100 knows thatthe value of the media type 212 included in the route contents list 209is GRVD, and starts to control the DVD recorder 200 in accordance withthe GRVD standard at step 334 and its following steps.

In this manner, upon receiving a read request for the information storedin the route contents list 209 from the STB 100 having the read right ofthe route contents list 209 during the formatting of the disk, the DVDrecorder 200 outputs the information indicating that reading theinformation stored in the route contents list 209 is impossible or theinformation refusing the read request to the STB 100. And when the STB100 newly requests the read right for the descriptor firstly after theDVD recorder 200 outputs the information indicating that reading theinformation stored in the route contents list 209 is impossible or theinformation refusing the read request to the STB 100, the route list ID232 is acquired from the DVD recorder 200. In this manner, even if theDVD recorder 200 formats the disk to change the kind of disk, the diskcan be controlled continuously.

Also, if the DVD recorder 200 receives a request for the read right ofthe route contents list 209 from the STB 100 during the formatting ofthe disk, the read right of the route contents list 209 is not given tothe STB 100. And the STB 100 newly requests the read right of thedescriptor firstly after the DVD recorder 200 does not give the readright of the route contents list 209 to the STB 100, the route list ID232 is acquired from the DVD recorder 200. In this manner, even if theDVD recorder 200 formats the disk to change the kind of disk, the diskcan be controlled continuously.

The DVD disk 208 or the disk of this embodiment is an example of thereplaceable disk of the invention, the route contents list 209 of thisembodiment is an example of the descriptor, the route list ID 232 ofthis embodiment is an example of the descriptor identifier of theinvention, the disk writing part 252 of this embodiment is an example ofwriting means of the invention, the 1394 I/F 250 of this embodiment isan example of output means of the invention, the STB 100 of thisembodiment is an example of request means of the invention, the DVDrecorder 200 of this embodiment is an example of the replaceable diskrecording and reproducing apparatus of the invention, and the STB 100 ofthis embodiment is an example of the control device of the invention.

EMBODIMENT 2

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an embodiment 2. The embodiment 2 willbe mainly described below in terms of the different points from theembodiment 1.

In the following, a control procedure of the STB 100 will be describedin the case where the DVD recorder 200 formats the DVD-RW disk having asignal recorded in DVD-Video format.

The operations in FIGS. 2(a), 2(b) and FIGS. 3(e) 3(f) are the same asin the embodiment 1. Also, in the embodiment 2, all the operations inFIGS. 2(c) and 2(d) are performed, unlike the embodiment 1.

That is, the 1394 I/F 250 also monitors the format status 251. Upondetecting the start of formatting the disk, the 1394 I/F 250 writes thevalue 00b in the disk-in drive 222 at step 301 in FIG. 2(d). Also, the1394 I/F 250 closes the route contents list 209, which is in open stateat that time, at step 302. The 1394 I/F 250 detecting that theformatting is completed write the value 01b in the disk-in drive 222 atstep 304 in FIG. 2(c).

The operations in FIGS. 4(a), 4(b) and FIG. 5(c) are the same as in theembodiment 1. Also, the operation in FIG. 5(d) is not performed in theembodiment 2.

Now, suppose that the kind of disk inserted into the DVD recorder 200 isthe DVD-RW disk in the finalized DVD-Video format. In this case, the STB100 judges that the media type 212 is DVD-Video at step 334, and startsto make the control in accordance with the 1394TA standard of theDVD-Video. Suppose that the user instructs the DVD recorder 200 toformat the disk, using the remote controller (not shown), after startingto make the control. An instruction of the remote controller is receivedby the remote control receiving part 254, and a format instruction 253is issued from the remote control receiving part 254 to the disk writingpart 252. The disk writing part 252 receiving the format instruction 253formats the DVD-RW disk inserted into the DVD recorder 200. Theformatted DVD-RW disk is changed again to the writable state, unlike thefinalized state before formatting. The DVD-RW in the writable state istreated in accordance with the GRVD standard (1394TA standard: AV/C DiscSubunit—Generic Recordable Video Disc Media Type Specification 1.0 AVWGCandidate 1.0: 10 Feb. 5, 2002) in the DVD recorder 200, whereby thedisk information 211 is changed to GRVD after formatting, and theinformation written in the media type 212 is also changed from DVD-Videoto GRVD.

At the time when the formatting is started in the DVD recorder 200, thevalue of the disk-in drive 222 is rewritten into 00b at step 301. TheSTB 100 detects the change in the disk-in drive 222 at step 341, and iskept waiting at steps 343 and 344 until the value of the disk-in drive222 is changed again to 01b. When the value of the disk-in drive 222 ischanged again to 01b, it is judged that the disk is detected at step234, and the route contents list 209 is read through the procedure fromstep 330 to step 333. The STB 100 knows that the value of the media type212 included in the route contents list 209 is GRVD, and starts tocontrol the DVD recorder 200 in accordance with the GRVD standard atstep 334 and its following steps.

In this embodiment 2, when the DVD recorder 200 starts formatting, thevalue of the disk-in drive 222 is rewritten into 00b at step 301.However, the invention is not limited thereto. When the DVD recorder 200starts formatting, the value of the disk-in drive 222 may be rewritteninto 10b at step 301. In this case, when the DVD recorder startsformatting, the disk is still kept inserted. However, if the value ofthe disk-in drive 222 is rewritten into 10b when the DVD recorder startsformatting, the STB 100 regards the disk as being once extracted fromthe DVD recorder 200. Thereafter, when the formatting is completed, thevalue of the disk-in drive 222 is restored to the value 01b again,whereby the STB 100 regards the new disk as being inserted and reads theroute contents list 209 through the procedure from step 330 to step 333.Accordingly, when the formatting is started, the value of the disk-indrive 222 may be rewritten into 10b at step 301 to achieve the sameeffect of this embodiment 2.

In this manner, upon receiving a read request for the disk-in drive 222of the subunit status descriptor 220 from the STB 100 during theformatting of the disk, the DVD recorder 200 outputs to the STB 100 theinformation indicating that the disk is not inserted, or insertion orextraction of the disk is unknown. In this manner, even if the DVDrecorder 200 formats the disk to change the kind of disk, the disk canbe controlled continuously.

The DVD disk 208 or the disk of this embodiment is an example of thereplaceable disk of the invention, the route contents list 209 of thisembodiment is an example of the descriptor of the invention, the routelist ID 232 of this embodiment is an example of the descriptoridentifier of the invention, the disk-in drive 222 of this embodiment isan example of the disk insertion or extraction information of theinvention, the disk writing part 252 of this embodiment is an example ofwriting means of the invention, the 1394 I/F 250 of this embodiment isan example of output means of the invention, the STB 100 of thisembodiment is an example of request means of the invention, the DVDrecorder 200 of this embodiment is an example of the replaceable diskrecording and reproducing apparatus of the invention, and the STB 100 ofthis embodiment is an example of the control device of the invention.

As will be apparent from the above description, in this embodiment, thedisk-in drive is set “no disk” or “unknown” while the disk is beingformatted, whereby there is the effect that the formatting operation ofthe disk is performed in a state where the disk is inserted, and evenwhen the kind of disk is changed before and after formatting, thecontroller can control the replaceable disk recording and reproducingapparatus continuously.

Also, when the formatting of the disk is started, the route contentslist is compulsorily closed and the reopening request is not accepteduntil the formatting of the disk is completed, whereby there is theexcellent effect that the formatting operation of the disk is performedin a state where the disk is inserted, and even when the kind of disk ischanged before and after formatting, the controller can control thereplaceable disk recording and reproducing apparatus continuously.

Also, irrespective of whether or not the controller detects theinsertion or extraction of the disk in the replaceable disk recordingand reproducing apparatus, the route list ID is reread when the routecontents list is reopened, and the route contents list is requested tobe opened by designating the read route list ID, whereby there is theexcellent effect that the formatting operation of the disk is performedin a state where the disk is inserted, and even when the kind of disk ischanged before and after formatting, the controller can control thereplaceable disk recording and reproducing apparatus continuously.

Also, irrespective of whether or not the controller detects theinsertion or extraction of the disk in the replaceable disk recordingand reproducing apparatus, the route list ID is reread when the routecontents list is reopened, and the route contents list is opened bydesignating the read route list ID, to confirm the media type includedin the opened route contents list, whereby there is the excellent effectthat the formatting operation of the disk is performed in a state wherethe disk is inserted, and even when the kind of disk is changed beforeand after formatting, the controller can control the replaceable diskrecording and reproducing apparatus continuously.

In this embodiment, the formatting of the disk is started from outsideof the apparatus by a remote controller operation. However, the sameeffect is also achieved when the formatting is started by making thedirect operation of the apparatus main body or receiving a command viathe IEEE 1394.

The program of the invention causes a computer to perform the operationof all or part of the steps (or process, operation, action, etc.) in thedisk information output method of the invention, while cooperating withthe computer.

The recording medium of the invention carries a program that causes acomputer to perform the operation of all or part of the steps (orprocess, operation, action, etc.) in the disk information output methodof the invention, while the program readable by a computer and read by acomputer cooperates with the computer to execute the operation.

The “part of the steps (or process, operation, action, etc.)” of theinvention as used herein means one or more steps in the disk informationoutput method.

Also, the “operation of steps (or process, operation, action, etc.” ofthe invention as used herein means operation of all or part of thesteps.

Also, in one use form, the program of the invention may be recorded in acomputer readable recording medium and performed in cooperation with acomputer.

Also, in one use form, the program of the invention may be transmittedthrough transmission media, read by a computer and performed incooperation with a computer.

Also, the data structure of the invention involves a database, dataformat, data table, data list, and a kind of data.

Also, the recording media include a ROM, and the transmission mediainclude the transmission medium such as the Internet, light, electricwave and sound wave.

Also, the computer of the invention is not limited to pure hardware suchas CPU, but may include firmware, OS, and peripheral devices.

As described above, the configuration of the invention may beimplemented by software or hardware.

Industrial Applicability

In the light of the above-mentioned problems, the invention can providea disk information output method, replaceable disk recording andreproducing apparatus, a control device, a program and a recordingmedium, in which even when the kind of disk inserted into thereplaceable disk recording and reproducing apparatus is changed byformatting the disk, the control device can continue the control bydetecting the kind of disk correctly.

1. (Cancelled).
 2. The disk information output method according to anyone of claims 7 to 9, wherein said control device requests saidreplaceable disk recording and reproducing apparatus to acquire the diskinsertion or extraction information upon polling.
 3. The diskinformation output method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein said diskinformation has the disk identification information representing thekind of said replaceable disk and a recording format, and said controldevice detects a change in the kind of replaceable disk or the recordingformat in the replaceable disk recording and reproducing apparatus,based on a comparison result between the disk identification informationobtained by said control device acquiring the read right of said diskinformation and the disk identification information obtained by saidcontrol device acquiring the read right of said disk information at theprevious time.
 4. A program for causing a computer to perform an outputstep of outputting to said control device the information indicatingthat reading said disk information is impossible or the informationindicating that said read request is refused when said replaceable diskrecording and reproducing apparatus receives a read request of said diskinformation from said control device having the read right of saiddescriptor during initialization of said replaceable disk, of said diskinformation output method according to claim
 7. 5. A recording mediumcarrying the program according to any one of claims 4 or 23-26, whereinsaid recording medium can be processed by a computer.
 6. A diskinformation output method for making access to the disk informationbased on a descriptor identifier acquired from a replaceable diskrecording and reproducing apparatus and stored by a control device, thedescriptor identifier identifying a descriptor having the diskinformation of a replaceable disk in the replaceable disk recording andreproducing apparatus, the method comprising: an output step ofdisabling a read right of the descriptor to be given to the controldevice when the replaceable disk recording and reproducing apparatusreceives a request for the read right of the descriptor from the controldevice during initialization of the replaceable disk, and an acquisitionstep of acquiring the descriptor identifier from the replaceable diskrecording and reproducing apparatus, when the control device requestsagain the read right of the descriptor firstly after the replaceabledisk recording and reproducing apparatus disables the read right of thedescriptor to be given to the control device.
 7. A disk informationoutput method for making access to the disk information based on adescriptor identifier acquired from a replaceable disk recording andreproducing apparatus and stored by a control device, the descriptoridentifier identifying a descriptor having the disk information of areplaceable disk in said replaceable disk recording and reproducingapparatus, the method comprising: an output step of outputting to thecontrol device the information indicating that reading the diskinformation is impossible or the information indicating that a readrequest is refused when the replaceable disk recording and reproducingapparatus receives the read request of the disk information from thecontrol device having a read right of the descriptor duringinitialization of the replaceable disk; and an acquisition step ofacquiring the descriptor identifier from the replaceable disk recordingand reproducing apparatus, when the control device requests again theread right of the descriptor firstly after the replaceable diskrecording and reproducing apparatus outputs to the control device theinformation indicating that reading the disk information is impossibleor the information indicating that the read request is refused.
 8. Adisk information output method for making access to the disk informationbased on a descriptor identifier acquired from a replaceable diskrecording and reproducing apparatus and stored by a control device, thedescriptor identifier identifying a descriptor having the diskinformation of a replaceable disk in the replaceable disk recording andreproducing apparatus, the method comprising: an output step ofdisabling a read right of the descriptor to be given to the controldevice when the replaceable disk recording and reproducing apparatusreceives a request for the read right of the descriptor from the controldevice during initialization of the replaceable disk, wherein thedescriptor identifier is acquired from the replaceable disk recordingand reproducing apparatus by the control device, when the control devicerequests again the read right of the descriptor firstly after thereplaceable disk recording and reproducing apparatus disables the readright of the descriptor to be given to the control device.
 9. A diskinformation output method for making access to the disk informationbased on a descriptor identifier acquired from a replaceable diskrecording and reproducing apparatus and stored by a control device, thedescriptor identifier identifying a descriptor having the diskinformation of a replaceable disk in the replaceable disk recording andreproducing apparatus, in which when the replaceable disk is taken in orout, the control device acquires the descriptor identifier again, themethod comprising an output step of outputting to the control device theinformation indicating a state where the replaceable disk is notinserted, or a state where insertion or extraction of the replaceabledisk is unknown, when the replaceable disk recording and reproducingapparatus receives a read request of the disk insertion or extractioninformation from the control device during initialization of thereplaceable disk.
 10. A disk information output method for making accessto the disk information based on a descriptor identifier acquired from areplaceable disk recording and reproducing apparatus and stored by acontrol device, the descriptor identifier identifying a descriptorhaving the disk information of a replaceable disk in the replaceabledisk recording and reproducing apparatus, the method comprising anacquisition step of acquiring the descriptor identifier from thereplaceable disk recording and reproducing apparatus, when the controldevice requests again a read right of the descriptor firstly after thereplaceable disk recording and reproducing apparatus outputs to thecontrol device the information indicating that reading the diskinformation is impossible or the information indicating that the readrequest is refused, if the replaceable disk recording and reproducingapparatus receives a read request of the disk information from thecontrol device having the read right of the descriptor duringinitialization of the replaceable disk.
 11. A disk information outputmethod for making access to the disk information based on a descriptoridentifier acquired from a replaceable disk recording and reproducingapparatus and stored by a control device, the descriptor identifieridentifying a descriptor having the disk information of a replaceabledisk in the replaceable disk recording and reproducing apparatus, themethod comprising: an acquisition step of acquiring the descriptoridentifier from the replaceable disk recording and reproducingapparatus, when the control device requests again a read right of thedescriptor firstly after the replaceable disk recording and reproducingapparatus disables the read right of the descriptor to be given to thecontrol device, if the replaceable disk recording and reproducingapparatus receives a request for the read right of the descriptor fromthe control device during initialization of the replaceable disk. 12.The disk information output method according to claims 10 or 11, whereinthe control device comprises a request step of requesting thereplaceable disk recording and reproducing apparatus to acquire the diskinsertion or extraction information upon polling.
 13. The diskinformation output method according to claims 10 or 11, wherein the diskinformation has the disk identification information representing thekind of the replaceable disk or a recording format, and the methodfurther comprises a detection step of the control device for detecting achange in the kind of replaceable disk or the recording format in thereplaceable disk recording and reproducing apparatus, based on acomparison result between the disk identification information obtainedby the control device acquiring the read right of the disk informationand the disk identification information obtained by the control deviceacquiring the read right of the disk information at the previous time.14. A replaceable disk recording and reproducing apparatus for use witha disk information output method for making access to the diskinformation based on a descriptor identifier acquired from thereplaceable disk recording and reproducing apparatus and stored by acontrol device, the descriptor identifier identifying a descriptorhaving the disk information of a replaceable disk in the replaceabledisk recording and reproducing apparatus, the apparatus comprising:writing means of initializing at least the replaceable disk, and outputmeans of outputting to the control device the information indicatingthat reading the disk information is impossible or the informationindicating that a read request is refused when the writing meansreceives the read request of the disk information from the controldevice having a read right of the descriptor during initialization ofthe replaceable disk, wherein the control device comprises request meansfor acquiring the descriptor identifier from the output means, when thecontrol device requests again the read right of the descriptor firstlyafter the output means outputs to the control device the informationindicating that reading the disk information is impossible or theinformation indicating that the read request is refused.
 15. Areplaceable disk recording and reproducing apparatus for use with a diskinformation output method for making access to the disk informationbased on a descriptor identifier acquired from the replaceable diskrecording and reproducing apparatus and stored by a control device, thedescriptor identifier identifying a descriptor having the diskinformation of a replaceable disk in the replaceable disk recording andreproducing apparatus, the apparatus comprising: writing means ofinitializing at least the replaceable disk, and output means ofdisabling a read right of the descriptor to be given to the controldevice when the writing means receives a read request of the descriptorfrom the control device during initialization of the replaceable disk,wherein the control device comprises request means for acquiring thedescriptor identifier from the replaceable disk recording andreproducing apparatus, when the control device requests again the readright of the descriptor firstly after the output means disables the readright of the descriptor to be given to the control device.
 16. Areplaceable disk recording and reproducing apparatus for use with a diskinformation output method for making access to the disk informationbased on a descriptor identifier acquired from a replaceable diskrecording and reproducing apparatus and stored by a control device, thedescriptor identifier identifying a descriptor having the diskinformation of a replaceable disk in the replaceable disk recording andreproducing apparatus, in which when the replaceable disk is taken in orout, the control device acquires the descriptor identifier again, theapparatus comprising: writing means of initializing at least thereplaceable disk, and output means of outputting to the control devicethe information indicating a state where the replaceable disk is notinserted, or a state where insertion or extraction of the replaceabledisk is unknown, when the writing means receives a read request of thedisk insertion or extraction information from the control device duringinitialization of the replaceable disk.
 17. The replaceable diskrecording and reproducing apparatus according to any one of claims 14 to16, wherein the control device comprises a request step of requestingthe output means to acquire the disk insertion or extraction informationupon polling.
 18. The replaceable disk recording and reproducingapparatus according to claim 14 or 16, wherein the disk information hasthe disk identification information representing the kind of thereplaceable disk or a recording format, and the control device furthercomprises a detection step of detecting a change in the kind ofreplaceable disk or the recording format in the replaceable diskrecording and reproducing apparatus, based on a comparison resultbetween the disk identification information obtained by the controldevice acquiring the read right of the disk information and the diskidentification information obtained by the control device acquiring theread right of the disk information at the previous time.
 19. A controldevice for use with a disk information output method for making accessto the disk information based on a descriptor identifier acquired fromthe replaceable disk recording and reproducing apparatus and stored bythe control device, the descriptor identifier identifying a descriptorhaving the disk information of a replaceable disk in the replaceabledisk recording and reproducing apparatus, the apparatus comprising:writing means of initializing at least the replaceable disk, and outputmeans of outputting to the control device the information indicatingthat reading the disk information is impossible or the informationindicating that a read request is refused when the writing meansreceives the read request of the disk information from the controldevice having a read right of the descriptor during initialization ofthe replaceable disk, wherein the control device comprises request meansof acquiring the descriptor identifier from the output means, when thecontrol device requests again the read right of the descriptor firstlyafter the output means outputs to the control device the informationindicating that reading the disk information is impossible or theinformation indicating that the read request is refused.
 20. A controldevice for use with a disk information output method for making accessto the disk information based on a descriptor identifier acquired fromthe replaceable disk recording and reproducing apparatus and stored by acontrol device, the descriptor identifier identifying a descriptorhaving the disk information of a replaceable disk in the replaceabledisk recording and reproducing apparatus, the apparatus comprising:writing means of initializing at least the replaceable disk, and outputmeans for disabling a read right of the descriptor to be given to thecontrol device when the writing means receives a read request of thedescriptor from the control device during initialization of thereplaceable disk, wherein the control device comprises request means ofacquiring the descriptor identifier from the output means, when thecontrol device requests again the read right of the descriptor firstlyafter the output means disables the read right of the descriptor to begiven to the control device.
 21. The control device according to claims19 or 20, wherein the request means requests the replaceable diskrecording and reproducing apparatus to acquire the disk insertion orextraction information upon polling.
 22. The control device according toclaims 19 or 20, wherein the disk information has the diskidentification information representing the kind of the replaceable diskor a recording format, and the control device further comprises adetection step of detecting a change in the kind of replaceable disk orthe recording format in the replaceable disk recording and reproducingapparatus, based on a comparison result between the disk identificationinformation obtained by the control device acquiring the read right ofthe disk information and the disk identification information obtained bythe control device acquiring the read right of the disk information atthe previous time.
 23. A program for causing a computer to perform anoutput step of disabling the read right of the descriptor to be given tothe control device, when the replaceable disk recording and reproducingapparatus receives a request for the read right of the descriptor fromthe control device during initialization of the replaceable disk, ofsaid disk information output method according to claim
 8. 24. A programfor causing a computer to perform an output step of outputting to thecontrol device the information indicating a state where the replaceabledisk is not inserted, or a state where insertion or extraction of thereplaceable disk is unknown, when the replaceable disk recording andreproducing apparatus receives a read request of the disk insertion orextraction information from the control device during initialization ofthe replaceable disk, of the disk information output method according toclaim
 9. 25. A program for causing a computer to perform an acquisitionstep of acquiring the descriptor identifier from the replaceable diskrecording and reproducing apparatus, when the control device requestsagain the read right of the descriptor firstly after the replaceabledisk recording and reproducing apparatus outputs to the control devicethe information indicating that reading the disk information isimpossible or the information indicating that the read request isrefused, if the replaceable disk recording and reproducing apparatusreceives a read request of the disk information from the control devicehaving the read right of the descriptor during initialization of thereplaceable disk, of the disk information output method according toclaim
 10. 26. A program for causing a computer to perform an acquisitionstep of acquiring the descriptor identifier from the replaceable diskrecording and reproducing apparatus, when the control device requestsagain the read right of the descriptor firstly after the replaceabledisk recording and reproducing apparatus disables the read right of thedescriptor to be given to the control device, if the replaceable diskrecording and reproducing apparatus receives a request for the readright of the descriptor from the control device during initialization ofthe replaceable disk, of the disk information output method according toclaim 11.